KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Carlos Santana and MJ Melendez homered, leading the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 on Thursday night.
Santana hit a two-run homer to break a fifth-inning tie as the Royals won consecutive games for the first time since May 17-18.
“Carlos is confident right now,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “It was good to see from the left side, too, because I know he takes that personal. That ball was hit.”
“We feel confident,” Santana said. “It’s good to win two days in a row, but we have to keep it up. A lot of our younger players have good talent.”
The last-place teams have had 30 players age 25 or younger on their rosters ths season, including the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, who were ranked as the top two big league prospects entering the season.
Former Gold Glove catcher Matheny had high praise for Rutschman’s glove work.
“He got off to kind of a rough start (at the plate),” Matheny said. “But you watch his mannerisms and it was almost like he kicked it up to another level when he got behind the plate. He’s a guy who understands the importance of that position.”
Witt and Melendez played large roles Thursday. Witt had two hits and stole two bases, while Melendez homered, drove in two and scored twice.
“They’re dangerous,” Matheny said. “The guys are young but they’re learning fast and they’re making great adjustments. MJ taking his walks, and display(ing) his power. And the same with Bobby taking really great at-bats. They seem to be ahead of where they should be.”
“I feel like we’re all having really great at-bats,” Melendez said. “We’re doing a really good job of getting guys in scoring position. I’m making the pitcher come to me. If he doesn’t…
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